Occupy Wall Street: Protesters Vow to Fight On
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Protesters have flooded back into the New York park where police demolished their two-month-old tent camp, vowing to step up the Occupy Wall Street campaign despite a ban on camping out there.

The movement to protest alleged corporate greed and political dysfunction was thrown into crisis during a turbulent 24 hours on Tuesday that began with a surprise early morning police raid on the privately-owned Zuccotti Park.

Protesters then spent the day playing cat-and-mouse with authorities as they sought to re-establish their base near Wall Street, the symbolic epicenter of a movement that has inspired similar protests in other US cities and abroad.

In the evening, police reopened the park and let the protesters back in one-by-one - but only after a New York judge backed a ban on pitching tents, rejecting the demonstrators' legal challenge to the dismantling of the camp.

"No one will be denied entry," a police officer said at the gate, as people began to wander back in. Organisers put the number at 1,200. Once inside, the crowd began to chant: "All day, all week, occupy Wall Street."

Both sides were claiming victory after judge Michael Stallman ruled that the owners of the park and the authorities were not denying protesters their constitutional right to freedom of speech by banning them from camping out.

"Zuccotti Park will remain open to all who want to enjoy it, as long as they abide by the park's rules," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. » | November 16, 2011

Tide Turns against Occupy Wall Street

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Occupy Wall Street protesters in several US cities faced mounting pressure from police to abandon their encampments, as the tide appeared to be turning against the movement.

The Occupy protests are now nearly two months old, having begun in New York's financial district on Sept 17 as a demonstration against income inequality and corporate greed.

This weekend however officials across the country urged an end to gatherings and camps were cleared in Salt Lake City, Utah and Denver, Colorado.

In Portland, Oregon thousands of people gathered in two adjacent city parks in an overnight stand off with police. The city's mayor Sam Adams had ordered a camp there to be shut down by midnight Saturday, citing unhealthy conditions and the camp's attraction of drug users and thieves. There had been four non-fatal drug overdoses in recent weeks.

But early on Sunday 3,000 people converged on the area and protest organisers said that would make it difficult for police to carry out an eviction.

Occupy Portland spokesman Jordan LeDoux said: "We're going to sit-in and force them to arrest us." » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Sunday, November 13, 2011

NY Mayor Talks Tough on OWS as Momentum Grows

Rowan Williams Warns of 'Urgent Issues' Raised by Protests as Third St Paul's Clergyman Resigns
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has warned that "urgent" issues raised by the protesters at St Paul's Cathedral must be properly addressed as the Dean, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, resigned.

He said the resignation, which followed that of Rev Dr Giles Fraser, the Canon Chancellor, was "very sad news" and that the events of the past fortnight had shown "how decisions made in good faith by good people under unusual pressure can have utterly unforeseen and unwelcome consequences".

Speaking publicly about the crisis for the first time, Dr Williams added: "The urgent larger issues raised by the protesters at St Paul's remain very much on the table and we need – as a Church and as society as a whole – to work to make sure that they are properly addressed."

Dean Knowles, the most senior dean in the country, said the cathedral clergy had been put “under a great deal of strain” as they faced what he described as “insurmountable issues” and that his position had become “untenable”.

The announcement comes just days after Dr Fraser stepped down from his post, warning that to evict the anti-capitalist activists would constitute “violence in the name of the Church”.

A part time chaplain, Rev Fraser Dyer, has also resigned citing similar concerns. » | Victoria Ward | Monday, October 31, 2011

Occupy Protesters Clash with Police in Denver and Portland

THE GUARDIAN: Twenty people detained in Denver and 30 in Portland as snowstorms result in quieter weekends for New York demonstrators

Violent clashes between Occupy protesters and police broke out in Denver, Colorado, and Portland, Oregon, over the weekend.

Police arrested 20 people and fired pepper spray and pepper balls as they moved to tear down tents set up by Occupy Denver demonstrators on Saturday. Amid angry scenes, two protesters were held on felony charges after police said an officer was knocked off his motorcycle and other officers were kicked.

Patricia Hughes, 38, a nurse who was at the Denver demonstration described the police behaviour as "brutal and outlandish."

She said that police were putting on their riot gear before the demonstration began and that more than 100 officers charged into the crowd after one officer fell while dismantling a tent.

"It's an extraordinary decision that the police in Denver think rubber bullets are an acceptable response to a peaceful protest," she said. » | Dominic Rushe in New York | Sunday, October 30, 2011

Vatican Sides with Anti-capitalist Protesters and Attacks Global Financial System

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Vatican aligned itself with anti-capitalism protesters around the world on Monday when it condemned "the idolatry of the market" and called for a radical shake-up of the global financial system.

By demanding that the worst excesses of global capitalism be reined in, the Holy See echoed the message of protesters encamped outside St Paul's Cathedral in London, the indignados of Spain and the Occupy Wall Street movement in the US.

In a forthright statement, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace called for an end to rampant speculation, the redistribution of wealth, greater ethics and the establishment of a "central world bank" to which national banks would have to cede power.

Such an authority would have "universal jurisdiction" over governments' economic strategies.

Existing financial situations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund were outdated and no longer able to deal with the scale of the global financial crisis, which had exposed "selfishness, greed and the hoarding of goods on a grand scale".

The global financial system was riddled with injustice and failure to address that would lead to "growing hostility and even violence", which would undermine democracy. » | Nick Squires, in Rome | Monday, October 24, 2011

My comment:

Capitalism is failing; indeed it is ailing and totally failing. The Vatican is absolutely right to call it into question.

I never thought that I would see the day I would do so myself; but capitalism is a thoroughly discredited system. It's a system which Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher brought into disrepute with their ignorant, stupid deregulation of the banks and finance houses. Now, the best system that has ever been conceived by man stands before total annihilation and destruction. It is a travesty that in the States, for example, 50% of wealth is owned by 1% of the population. This is disgraceful! – © Mark

This comment appears here

St Paul's Cathedral Announces Closure Due to 'Occupy' Protesters
It seemed a gesture of Christian tolerance when a clergyman at St Paul’s Cathedral told police to allow anti-capitalist protesters camped outside to continue their demonstration.

Read article here

The Inside Operation at Occupy Wall Street
Reuters' Anthony DeRosa visits Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, the headquarters of the #occupywallstreet movement and breaks down the units operating in support of the larger group.

Les «indignés» campent à la City

LE FIGARO: Quelques centaines de manifestants se sont installés à côté de la Bourse de Londres.

La nuit a été courte. Vent pinçant, carillon des cloches de Saint-Paul et arrivée des caméras dès l'aube ne facilitent certes pas le repos. Mais Bryn Phillips et Laura May, 28 et 30 ans, assis dans leur petite tente pliable, n'ont aucune intention de se laisser décourager. «On reste jusqu'à ce que le gouvernement démissionne», annonce Bryn, pianiste de son état.

Ils sont quelques centaines à camper ici depuis une manifestation, samedi, relayant le mouvement Occupy Wall Street de New York, sous une large bannière qui annonce : «Le capitalisme, c'est la crise.» Ils voulaient au départ s'installer devant la Bourse de Londres mais le propriétaire de l'esplanade privée où se situe son siège en a fait bloquer l'accès par la police. Les campeurs se sont donc réfugiés à deux pas, à l'ombre de la cathédrale Saint-Paul, avec le soutien inattendu du révérend Giles Fraser, qui a demandé aux forces de l'ordre de les laisser faire. » | Par Florentin Collomp | Correspondant à Londres | lundi 17 octobre 2011

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Proteste gegen Banken – Merkel: „Berechtigtes Gerechtigkeitsverlangen“ – Bundeskanzlerin Merkel versteht, warum „die Menschen auf die Straße gehen“. Darin drücke sich eine tiefe Sorge aus „und auch ein berechtigtes Gerechtigkeitsverlangen der Menschen.“ Es sei nötig, der Finanzwelt „Zügel anzulegen“.» | Quelle: Reuters, dpa | Montag 17. Oktober 2011

Occupy-Bewegung: Die Globalisierung weckt ihre Kinder

SUEDDEUTSCHE: David gegen Goliath, 1 versus 99 Prozent, die Menschen gegen das Finanzsystem: Der weltweite Protest ist nicht typisch links oder rechts - es bildet sich eine europäische Öffentlichkeit, die ihren Zorn auf das System nicht einfach runterschlucken wird. Anstatt den Hindukusch zu verteidigen, gilt jetzt auch in Deutschland: die Demokratie gegen die Gier der Märkte zu verteidigen.

Die Globalisierung weckt ihre Kinder. Deren Protest ist nicht rechts und er ist nicht links. Er lässt sich nicht fangen mit den alten Lassos. Sicher: Der Protest ist Ausdruck der Empörung über soziale Ungerechtigkeit, das ist ein altes linkes Thema. Aber der Protest steht auch für das fatale Gefühl, dass die Staaten zu schwach sind und von den Finanzmärkten gewürgt und enteignet werden. Die Sehnsucht nach einem starken Souverän aber ist ebenso ein konservatives, rechtes Thema: die Marodeure der internationalen Finanzwirtschaft sollen gebändigt werden.

Die Proteste sind schließlich Ausdruck zorniger Enttäuschung. In der Finanzkrise 2008, als die Staaten ungeheuerlich viel Geld in die Banken pumpten, glaubten viele Bürger, sie erlebten eine Läuterung des Kapitalismus. Das war und blieb eine Täuschung. Die Großbanken haben mit den Mitteln und Methoden weitergezockt, die vorher die Finanzkrise herbeigeführt hatten. Sie konnten ihr Spiel weitertreiben; denn keine von den strikten Regeln, die von der internationalen Politik angekündigt wurden, trat in Kraft. Der Finanzkapitalismus wurde keinen Deut menschlicher, der Turbo des Kapitalismus blieb angeschaltet. » | Ein Kommentar von Heribert Prantl | Sonntag 16. Oktober 2011

Occupy Wall Street: Over 80 Arrests as Protests Intensify

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Thousands of protesters decrying corporate greed and inequality marched on Times Square in New York, leading to more than 80 arrests, as similar demonstrations were held across America.

The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators moved north through Manhattan and held a rally for several hours in the square on Saturday night.

Estimates of the crowd ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 as they mixed with Broadway show-goers and tourists.

A police spokesman said arrests were made after protesters repeatedly ignored warnings to disperse.

The demonstration was largely non-confrontational but two police officers were hospitalised, including one with a head injury.

Protesters chanted "We got sold out, banks got bailed out" and "All day, all week, occupy Wall Street." » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Action mondiale: Berne, Bâle et Zurich: les autres manifestations des «indignés»

LE MATIN: Les villes alémaniques, à l'instar de Genève en Suisse romande, ont vu défiler samedi des manifestations clairsemées et pacifistes dénonçant la crise financière actuelle.

L’appel mondial des «indignés», qui devait rassembler des manifestants à Rome, Berlin, Bruxelles ou New York, a été suivi avec plus ou moins de succès en Suisse. Zurich a attiré près de 1000 «indignés». Genève, Bâle et Berne ont également réuni quelques centaines de personnes.

Un milliers d’«indignés»

Selon les organisateurs, environ 1000 personnes étaient rassemblées sur la Paradeplatz à Zurich dans le cadre de l’action mondiale des «indignés». Elles protestaient contre le système financier et l’élite politique.

L’ambiance était détendue. Beaucoup de manifestants étaient des jeunes, mais de nombreux adultes et des familles avec enfants étaient aussi de la partie. La manifestation zurichoise, non autorisée, a notamment été organisée par les jeunesses socialistes et les jeunes Verts.

De nombreuses patrouilles de police était présentes dans des rues proches de la place, où sont situés les sièges de nombreuses banques, a constaté une journaliste de l’ats sur place. Les forces de l’ordre sont restées en retrait, sans intervenir. » | LeMatin.ch & les agencies | Samedi 15 Octobre 2011

Protesters in Rome Burn Cars, Break Windows
Protests inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have become violent in Rome as 'black block' militants smash shop windows and set fire to two cars.

Comment here
THE TIMES: Rome riots in global ‘day of protest’ against corporate greed » | Sadie Gray | Saturday, October 15, 2011 [£]

Die Occupy-Welle geht um die Welt
Gewaltsame Ausschreitungen bei Sozialprotesten in Rom
NZZ ONLINE: Der Aktionstag gegen die Entartung des Kapitalismus hat weltweit Anklang gefunden. Vom Ostasien und Ozeanien ausgehend schwappte die Welle besonders heftig nach Europa. Insgesamt soll es Teilnehmer in 82 Ländern gegeben haben. Nur in Italien wurde es brenzlig.

Bei Protesten gegen die Macht der Finanzinstitutionen ist es am Samstag in Rom zu Ausschreitungen gekommen. Demonstranten, die sich von der Grosskundgebung abgesetzt hatten, warfen Schaufensterscheiben ein und setzten ein Auto in Brand. Schwarzer Rauch stieg in der Innenstadt auf. Zahlreiche Polizisten waren im Einsatz. Erwartet worden waren in der italienischen Hauptstadt rund 100'000 Demonstranten. » | ddp/dpa/Reuters | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

NZZ ONLINE: Kreative Besetzung des Paradeplatzes: Einige hundert Personen bekunden in Zürich ihren Widerstand gegen die Finanzwelt » | Andreas Schmid | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

BERNER ZEITUNG: In Rom brennen die Autos: Nach Australien sind auch in Europa Zehntausende dem weltweiten Aufruf zum Protest gegen die Macht der Banken gefolgt. In Italiens Hauptstadt kam es zu heftigen Ausschreitungen. » | kpn, jak/sda | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

Occupy London – Live

Watch live streaming video from occupylondon2 at livestream.com

MAIL ONLINE: Day of 'Global Revolution' comes to London as thousands of demonstrators take over the City » | Lee Moran | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Protesters Hit the City of London

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Protesters descended on the City of London today as part of worldwide demonstrations against corporate greed and cutbacks.

Inspired by America's "Occupy Wall Street" and Spain's "Indignants", people took to the streets in Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo in the opening hours of the unprecedented global outcry.

Anger over unemployment and opposition to the financial elite hung over the protests in 951 cities in 82 countries, which coincided with a Paris meeting of G20 financial powers pre-occupied by the eurozone debt crisis.

But the demands and the sense of urgency among the activists varied depending on the city.

In London, more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside St Paul's Cathedral and struggled against police officers on horseback to enter Paternoster Square, the home of the London Stock Exchange.

Speaking at the protest, political campaigner Peter Tatchell proposed a one-off 20pc emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10pc of the UK population, as well as the introduction of a “Tobin Tax” on financial transactions.

"The richest 10pc of the UK population have a combined personal wealth of £4 million, million. A one-off 20pc tax on those people would raise £800 billion," he said.
"Those people can afford it, they'd feel no pain, they're so fabulously wealthy.

"With that sum of money you could pay off the entire government deficit. No need for any public spending cuts." Read on and comment » | Matthew Sparkes | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Occupy Wall Street Protests Gain Momentum Across US
Protesters campaigning against corporate greed take their demands for reform of the financial system to cities across America.

Occupy Wall Street Protests: One Hundred People Arrested at Boston Site
Police arrest scores of protesters after the Occupy Boston group, inspired by the fellow demonstrators on New York's Wall Street, expanded its encampment in the east coast US city [Monday, October 10, 2011]

Occupy Wall St Protests Spread to Asia Pacific
Occupy Wall Street protests spread to cities in Asia and the Pacific as demonstrators demand reform of the global financial system.

Read article here | Alastair Good | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Ces célébrités qui rallient le mouvement anti Wall-Street

LE FIGARO: EN IMAGES - Alors que le mouvement américain des Indignés prend de l’ampleur, plusieurs stars ont apporté leur soutien aux manifestants. Du rappeur Kanye West à l’actrice militante Susan Sarandon, tour d’horizon. À la galerie » | Par Constance Jamet | Vendredi 14 Octobre 2011